Career and Education Opportunities for School Psychologists in Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska provides a wide variety of opportunities, both career and educational, for school psychologists. There are currently 920 working school psychologists in Nebraska; this should grow 13% to about 1,040 working school psychologists in the state by 2016. This is better than the national trend for school psychologists, which sees this job pool growing by about 11.1% over the next eight years. School psychologists generally investigate processes of learning and teaching and develop psychological principles and techniques applicable to educational problems.

Income for school psychologists is about $25 per hour or $53,410 per year on average in Nebraska. Nationally, their income is about $30 per hour or $64,140 yearly. Earnings for school psychologists are not quite as good as earnings in the general category of Social Sciences in Nebraska and not quite as good as general Social Sciences category earnings nationally. School psychologists work in a variety of jobs, including: school psychology specialist, school psychometrist, and child psychologist.

The Lincoln area is home to twenty-five schools of higher education, including eight within twenty-five miles of Lincoln where you can get a degree as a school psychologist. School psychologists usually hold a post-Master's certificate, so it will take little over two years to learn to be a school psychologist if you already have a Bachelor's degree, or a short time starting with a Master's degree.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: School Psychologist

In general, school psychologists investigate processes of learning and teaching and develop psychological principles and techniques applicable to educational problems.

School psychologists furnish consultation to parents and others on topics such as learning styles and behavior modification techniques. They also assess an individual child's needs and potential, using observation, review of school records, and consultation with parents and school personnel. Equally important, school psychologists have to compile and interpret students' test results, along with data from teachers and parents, to diagnose conditions, and to help assess eligibility for special services. They are often called upon to promote an understanding of child development and its relationship to learning and behavior. They are expected to refer students and their families to appropriate community agencies for medical or social services. Finally, school psychologists initiate and direct efforts to foster tolerance and appreciation of diversity in school communities.

Every day, school psychologists are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings. It is also important that they piece together evidence to, in some sense, diagnose what is going on in a situation.

It is important for school psychologists to layout classes and programs to meet the needs of special students. They are often called upon to attend workshops or professional meetings to remain informed of new developments in school psychology. They also conduct research to generate new knowledge that can be used to address learning and behavior issues. They are sometimes expected to report any pertinent data to the proper authorities in cases of child endangerment or abuse. Somewhat less frequently, school psychologists are also expected to refer students and their families to appropriate community agencies for medical or social services.

School psychologists sometimes are asked to maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data. They also have to be able to collect and analyze data to review the effectiveness of academic programs and other services and furnish educational programs on topics such as classroom management or parenting skills. And finally, they sometimes have to serve as a resource to help families and schools deal with crises.

Like many other jobs, school psychologists must believe in cooperation and coordination and have exceptional integrity.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Lincoln include:

Economist. Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to aid in solution of economic problems arising from production and distribution of goods and services. May collect and process economic and statistical data using econometric and sampling techniques.

Geographic Information Systems Analyst. Study nature and use of areas of earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.

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Industrial Psychologist. Apply principles of psychology to personnel, administration, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee screening, training and development; and organizational development and analysis. May work with management to reorganize the work setting to improve worker productivity.

Market Research Analyst. Research market conditions in local, regional, or national areas to determine potential sales of a product or service. May gather information on competitors, prices, and methods of marketing and distribution. May use survey results to create a marketing campaign based on regional preferences and buying habits.

Market Survey Representative. Design or conduct surveys. May supervise interviewers who conduct the survey in person or over the telephone. May present survey results to client.

Urban Planner. Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of local jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, and metropolitan areas.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: School Psychologist Training

Nebraska Wesleyan University - Lincoln, NE

Nebraska Wesleyan University, 5000 St Paul Ave, Lincoln, NE 68504-2794. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a small university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 2,081 students and an admission rate of 80%. Nebraska Wesleyan University has a bachelor's degree program in Psychology which graduated six students in 2008.

Doane College - Crete, NE

Doane College, 1014 Boswell, Crete, NE 68333. Doane College is a small college located in Crete, Nebraska. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 900 students and an admission rate of 75%. Doane College has a bachelor's degree program in Psychology which graduated three students in 2008.

Creighton University - Omaha, NE

Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178. Creighton University is a medium sized university located in Omaha, Nebraska. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 7,059 students and an admission rate of 79%. Creighton University has a one to two year and a bachelor's degree program in Psychology which graduated zero and two students respectively in 2008.

Concordia University - Seward, NE

Concordia University, 800 N Columbia Ave, Seward, NE 68434-1556. Concordia University is a small university located in Seward, Nebraska. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 1,344 students and an admission rate of 68%. Concordia University has a bachelor's degree program in Psychology which graduated five students in 2008.

University of Nebraska at Omaha - Omaha, NE

University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St, Omaha, NE 68182-0225. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a large university located in Omaha, Nebraska. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 14,213 students and an admission rate of 84%. University of Nebraska at Omaha has 2 areas of study related to School Psychologist. They are:

Psychology, bachelor's degree and master's degree which graduated one and six students respectively in 2008.

School Psychology, master's degree and post-master's certificate which graduated seven and one students respectively in 2008.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Lincoln, NE

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 14th and R St, Lincoln, NE 68588. University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a large university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 23,573 students and an admission rate of 63%. University of Nebraska-Lincoln has bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctor's degree programs in Psychology which graduated nine, thirteen, and eleven students respectively in 2008.

Doane College-Lincoln Grand Island and Master - Lincoln, NE

Doane College-Lincoln Grand Island and Master, 303 N 52nd St, Lincoln, NE 68504. Doane College-Lincoln Grand Island and Master is a small college located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 1,651 students. Doane College-Lincoln Grand Island and Master has a master's degree program in Counseling Psychology which graduated forty students in 2008.

Union College - Lincoln, NE

Union College, 3800 S 48th, Lincoln, NE 68506. Union College is a small college located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 914 students and an admission rate of 64%. Union College has a bachelor's degree program in Psychology which graduated eight students in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist:
The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) believes that individuals certified as vocational assessment professionals (CVE, CWA, and CCAA) must continue to expand their skills to enhance the quality of services they provide.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska photo by Stack

Lincoln is situated in Lancaster County, Nebraska. It has a population of over 251,624, which has grown by 11.5% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Lincoln, 80, is well below the national average. New single-family homes in Lincoln cost $170,100 on average, which is above the state average. In 2008, five hundred thirty-nine new homes were constructed in Lincoln, down from eight hundred twenty-nine the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Lincoln are health care, educational services, and finance and insurance. For men, it is construction, educational services, and public administration. The average commute to work is about 17 minutes. More than 33.3% of Lincoln residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 11.2%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Lincoln is 4.1%, which is less than Nebraska's average of 4.5%.

The percentage of Lincoln residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 45.4%, is less than both the national and state average. Saint John Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Church and Calvary Lutheran Church are some of the churches located in Lincoln. The most common religious groups are the Catholic Church, the United Methodist Church and the Lutheran Church.

Lincoln is home to the Cedars Home and the AGP Grain Cooperative Elevator as well as Abel Stadium and 40th and Highway 2 Park. Shopping malls in the area include Gateway Mall, Sutter Place Mall and Edgewood Shopping Center. Visitors to Lincoln can choose from Comfort Suites, Ramada Limited North and Quality Inn Airport for temporary stays in the area.